Spirit Lake, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources issues a weekly fishing report on Thursdays in an effort to provide the latest information heading into the weekend. The weekly fishing report is compiled from information gathered from local bait shops, angler creel surveys, and county and state parks staff. For more information contact the Spirit Lake fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
NORTHWEST
Black Hawk Lake
Water temperatures are around 70 degrees. Water level is about 10 inches over the crest of the spillway. Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers fished under a bobber. Most action has been in Town Bay off the stone piers, the floating dock, and the fish house. Walleye – Fair: Use leeches or crankbaits along Ice House Point shoreline, the east end near the outlet rock piles off Cottonwood Point, and the east basin. Black Crappie – Fair: Anglers are picking up crappie from shore and the fish house in Town Bay using live minnows fished under a bobber. Yellow Perch – Use crawlers fished under a bobber along shore and Ice House Point.
Black Hawk Pits
Black Crappie – Fair: Use a live minnow under a bobber near wood and rock cover along shore. Bluegill – Fair.
Brushy Creek Lake
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a live minnow under a bobber along shore near wood and rock cover. Bluegill – Fair: Use crawlers and small minnows fished under a bobber near shore and submerged structure. Yellow Perch – Fair.
Storm Lake (including Little Storm Lake)
Black Crappie – Fair: Try a minnow fished under a bobber along docks. Most luck has been in the marina. White Bass – Fair: Use leeches, crawlers and twisters. Walleye – Fair: Try leeches or crankbaits near shore and in the dredge cuts. Most action has been off shore. Channel Catfish – Fair: Try cut bait or stink bait fished near the bottom.
Water temperatures on most area lakes are around 70 degrees. For more information, contact the Black Hawk District office at 712-657-2638.
Clear Lake
The water temperature is in the high 60’s. Walleye – Fair: Anglers are having success slip bobber fishing the rock reefs with jigs and a minnow or leech. With the clear water, the best bite is early morning and evening. Black Crappie – Fair: Fish the edge of the vegetation and open areas in the rushes with a small minnow. Yellow Bass – Slow: Use small jigs in 2 to 3 feet of water on warmer days. Best bite is at first light. Channel Catfish – Good: Fish the windswept shore and areas where water is coming into the lake with cut bait fished on the bottom.
Crystal Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Use minnows fished in 7 feet of water. Largemouth Bass – Good: Try spinnerbaits fished on the edge of the vegetation. Walleye – Fair: Use minnows and leeches fishes near the dredge cut. Bluegill – Good: Try a small piece of crawler fished in 2 to 3 feet of water. Northern Pike – Good: Use spinnerbaits fished on the edge of the vegetation.
Lake Smith
Anglers are catching bass on a variety of baits. Largemouth Bass – Good. Bluegill – Good.
Lower Pine Lake
Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits. Black Crappie – Fair: Use small pink jigs. Bluegill – Fair: Try a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Silver Lake (Worth)
Largemouth Bass – Good: Bass are biting on a variety of baits. Bluegill – Good: Use a small piece of crawler fished under a bobber in 2 to 3 feet of water.
Upper Pine Lake
Bass anglers are doing well on a variety of baits.
For information on the lakes and rivers in the north central area, contact the Clear Lake Fish and Wildlife office at 641-357-3517.
Center Lake
Black Crappie – Good: Fish shoreline habitat as the fish are shallow. Cast a mini jig or use a minnow under a bobber.
East Okoboji Lake
Walleye – Good: Anglers report angler acceptable size fish are being caught after dark trolling crankbaits. Bluegill – Good: Fish have moved shallow; fish deeper wooden docks for the best action.
Five Island Lake
Channel Catfish – Good: Local bait shop reports a good bite with large fish being. Walleye – Fair: Some fish are being caught.
Lost Island Lake
Walleye – Fair: Report of 14 – 18 inch fish being caught. Expect the action to improve as the water temperature warms. Black Crappie – Fair: Report of black crappie and bluegill being caught in shallow water. Yellow Bass – Fair: Anglers report that the yellow bass action has started at the lake.
Silver Lake (Dickinson)
Walleye – Good: Wader fishing is at its prime after dark with the clear water. Fish slow with a jig and minnow or twister tails on light jig heads. Yellow Perch – Slow: Recent surveys show good numbers of fish approaching 11 inches.
Silver Lake (Palo Alto)
Black Bullhead – Good: Good bite with jumbo size fish reported being caught.
Spirit Lake
Walleye – Good: Report of walleye fishing improving with fish caught throughout the day. Use leeches and slip bobbers in shallow, emerging weed beds. Black Crappie – Fish Trickles Slough or emerging reed beds for crappie and bluegill. Black Bullhead – Good: Action is picking up at the north grade using the traditional worm fished on the bottom.
Trumbull Lake
Yellow Perch – Fair: Report of some fish being caught.
Virgin Lake
Walleye – Good: Cast twisters or live bait under a slip bobber.
West Okoboji Lake
Bluegill – Fair: Some bluegill and crappie action has been reported. Expect the action to improve as water temperatures warm.
For more information throughout the week, contact the Spirit Lake Fish Hatchery at 712-336-1840.
